Flexible shaft end



Oct. 18, 1-932. F, A, Ross 1,882,943

FLEXIBLE SHAFT END Filed Jan. ll. 1930 0222 @ys A Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FVRANIKA. ROSS, QF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-WARNER CORPORATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA FLEXIBLE-.SHAFT END The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction and method of formingthe ends of the casing o f a flexible shaftI for securement thereto of the terminal 5. fitting by which the flexible shaft is to be con- .nected to the apparatus served. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown` and described as indicated in the claims. l v 1o In the drawing: f

Figure l isan axial section of a' piece of flexible shaft casing shown connected at one end to a/fitting shown in part and broken away as to the remainder, which may be understood as a coupling for joining two secti`ons or unit lengths of flexible shafting, or as an inleading or outleading terminal of the mechanism from or to which power,` is to be communicated by the flenible shafting, this "o construction embodying the invention in one of its forms.

Y Figure 2 is a plan view of the end portion of the flexible shaft casing in Figure l disengaged from the fitting.

Figure 3 is an end view ofthe same.

Figure 4' is a view similar to Figure Q show- A ing a modified form of the shaft 'casing end adapted for engagement with the same form of fitting as shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an end view of the same.

lFigures 6 and 7 are respectively similar side and end views of a third form.

Figures 8 and 9 are similar side and end views of a fourth form. A

Figures 10 and l1 are 'similar side and end views of a fifth form. y Figures 12 and lrare similar side and e'nd views of a sixth form.

It may be understood that for the usual and most familiar us'es of flexible shaft the rotat` ing element of the shaft is enclosed in a casing which is not rotated in theoperation of the shaft,'said Y causing consisting of 'inner and outer helical coils, the inner Coil usually being of round wire, and the outer coil of wire having cross section adapting it to fit between "the consecutive coils,of the inner round wire/spiral, so that the two coils together constitute a complete `enclosure for 59 the rot-ating shaft wit-hin. And it will be Application led January 11, 1930. Serial No. 420,234.

understood that such flexible sections of limited lengths are connected together for longer extent, and may be connected to the apparatus served, by coupling fittings which must be attached securely to the adjacent ends of the flexible shaft sections which are thereby conpled together, and securely to the extreme ends of bthe fully assembled flexible shaft which the end fittings are adapted to secure to the apparatus served, or for which 'the 60 apparatus is formed with the equivalent of such fitting at the point at which the flexible shaft is to be connected.

The present invention is directed to formation of the flexible shaft casing and the coupling or terminal fitting for readily and securely engaging the casing with the coupling and'terminal fittings or equivalentconnections formed on the apparatus served.

The expedient which characterizes the invention in all the forms shown consists inV providing in the cavity ofthe fitting to which the flexible shaft is to be joined an interior circumferential groove, preferably quite near the end at which the shaft is to be entered, and deforming or distorting a coil of one of the helical elements of the liexible shaft casing in such manner as to-cause a segment ofthe distorted coilv to protrude laterally from the cylindrical contour of the casing for engagement in the groove mentioned, when the shaft end isforced into the mouth of the fitting, which is easily done, notwithstanding the protruding segment of the coil, because the helical casing element is resilient and the .85

deformed coil will yieldA back to its normal circular shape in passing into the mouth of the fitting, which may be slightly beveled to facilitate the entrance of the shaft casing; and when the protruding coil segment arrives at the groove it will snap out to the deformed shape, and the protruding'segment will engage the'groove; and by reason of the sides of thegroove being abrupt, the engagement will be quite positive and disengagement will not be caused by any pull likely to occur in any normal operation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing: i

A represents a portion of the fitting having the cavity/,20, with the mouth, 21, into which the flexible shaft casing, B, is inserted as described. is the inner helical casingelement customarily made'of round wire, as

shown. is the outer helical casing element customarily mader of Wire formed in,v cross ner helix is deformed to protrude a. segment '22, formed in the encompassing walll of the thereof as seen .at 32; for engaging the groove,

cavity, 20, of the fitting, A.

In the forms shown in Figures 4 and 5, the

end coil of the helix,.30, is deformed by` iattening it in onepdiametric direction, causing it to protrude at both sides in the transverse diametric direction, forming two prothe casing comprising two helical coils, one` outside the other, and havingone of said helical coils cut away adjacent the distorted turn of the other coil.

3. In the construction defined in claim .1,

the flexible shaft casing comprising two heli' cal coils, and having, one or` more of the helical' turns of one of said coils removed, the other coil having one of the corresponding turns distortedto form the protrusion for engag-f ing. the groove of theitting.

4. In the construction defined in claim 1,' i the distorted turn of the casing coil being thusy distorted so as"\to form twooutwardly protruding segments, 323,32, both of which wilNruding segments at. opposite sides of the engage the groove 22 when .the .casing is forced into the mouth of the fitting, A.

' In the forms sho in Figures 6 and 7, in-l stead of producing t e prot-rusion by flattening the coil, such protrusion is-produced by flexingoutwardly the end portion of the end coil, as -mostplainly seen at 32b inFigure 6.

t In the forms shown in Figures 8 and 9 the metric direction.

outer`helical casing member is cut away to expose four coils oftheinner helix, and the fsecond lor thirdcoil of -said innerhelix is deformed by attenin the coil in one dia-` metric direction, pro ucing opposite protruding segments'32, 32, in a transverse dia;-

. The'form shown in Figures 10 and lliis similar to the last preceding form, except that the deformation consists in a protruding seg-l ment of the second coilv at one side only, as seenat 32d. -v f 's In the form shown inFigures 12 and 13,

the rst two coils of the innei` helical casing element, are cut awa and the corresponding` coils ofthe outer he11x,-,las shown in the secondEcoiL-is deformed by flattening in one dia etric direction, producing oppositely positioned segments, 40, 40, protruding in a transverse diametric direction.

same as first above described.

. I claim y 1. In combination with a-ilexible shaft casl ing formed comprising aresilient helicalcoil,

the end .acoil distorted 'outwardlyto' gorm'a .d I

The operation of allthese forms fis' the f having a. cavity dimenhaving the turns adjacent to the distortion of the inner coil cut away to expose said dis;

torted. part for engagement with the groove. l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th ,day of.

January, 1930.

'FRANK A. noss. f 

